Credit: ©The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9743
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Portrait of Karl Theodor
Date
ca. 1775-1785
Sitter
Karl Theodor, Prince-Elector, Count Palatine and Duke of Bavaria (1724 - 1799) , Ruler
Creator
Unknown, Bavarian Court painter
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 1130mm
width (painting): 813mm
width (painting): 813mm
Content object
Description
Half-length portrait of Karl Theodor turned slightly to the left as viewed. He wears a short grey wig with queue and is shown in military dress consisting of a black jacket with red collar and cuffs trimmed with gold tassels at the fastenings and gold epaulettes. This is worn over a steel breastplate which has a red sash or ribbon across it. A red cloak trimmed with ermine is draped over the right shoulder. Karl Theodor wears the star of the Order of St Hubert with its motto visible: “In Trau Vast” and below, the Order of St George. He holds an upright baton in his right hand, with the left at his hip above the hilt of his sword. To the left as viewed is a blue crown cushion with gold trim and tassels.
Karl Theodor was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1784.
Karl Theodor was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1784.
Transcription
THE ELECTOR OF BAVARIA (1724-1799) ELECTED F.R.S. 1784. PAINTER UNKNOWN
Object history
Presented by Karl Theodor, 1785.
The gift was noted at a meeting of the Society’s Fellows on 17 March 1785: “The following presents were received. A Portrait of the Elector Palatine from his most Serene Highness.” [Royal Society, Journal Book, Original, JBO/32, meeting of 17 March 1785, p.151]. Also recorded in the printed list of presents in Philosophical Transactions. [“Presents made to the Royal Society From August 1784 to June 1785; with the names of the donors”, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, vol.75 (1785), p.488].
The artist Pompeo Batoni (1708-1787), Italian painter and draughtsman, produced a similarly-posed and full-length portrait of Karl Theodor in 1794 (now in Munich within the Bayerische Staatsgemaldessammlungen) The blue and gold crown cushion appears to the left of the sitter in each work, although in the Royal Society’s portrait its purpose is unclear without the larger view supplied by the Munich painting.
The gift was noted at a meeting of the Society’s Fellows on 17 March 1785: “The following presents were received. A Portrait of the Elector Palatine from his most Serene Highness.” [Royal Society, Journal Book, Original, JBO/32, meeting of 17 March 1785, p.151]. Also recorded in the printed list of presents in Philosophical Transactions. [“Presents made to the Royal Society From August 1784 to June 1785; with the names of the donors”, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, vol.75 (1785), p.488].
The artist Pompeo Batoni (1708-1787), Italian painter and draughtsman, produced a similarly-posed and full-length portrait of Karl Theodor in 1794 (now in Munich within the Bayerische Staatsgemaldessammlungen) The blue and gold crown cushion appears to the left of the sitter in each work, although in the Royal Society’s portrait its purpose is unclear without the larger view supplied by the Munich painting.
Associated place